Posted on 08/30/2015 2:40:46 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
President Obama on Monday will announce a plan to rename Alaskas Mount McKinley to Denali, the name that nearby natives have long used.
By taking action to officially name the 20,000-foot peak Denali, Obama will take the Alaskan Natives side in a dispute that has stretched on for more than a century.
Generally believed to be central to the Athabascan creation story, Denali is a site of significant cultural importance to many Alaska Natives, the White House said in a Sunday fact sheet. The name Denali has been used for many years and is widely used across the state today.
Alaska first formally requested the change in 1975.
It has often been a bipartisan legislative priority among Alaskas congressional delegation to rename the mountain. Lisa Murkowski (R), the states senior senator and chairwoman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which is responsible for the matter, has sponsored legislation in every session of Congress to do so since taking her seat.
At a hearing about the Denali bill in June, Murkowski said renaming the mountain seems a fitting gesture and an appropriate way to honor the culture and history of Alaska Natives.
There is no need for this name confusion and controversy to continue, she said.
At the same hearing, Victor Knox, the associate director for planning, facilities and lands at the National Park Service, which manages the mountain and surrounding area, said the Obama administrative respects the history of Denali and would not object to Murkowskis legislation.
Efforts to rename the mountain have often faced strong opposition from Ohio and its congressional delegation in an attempt to preserve the honor of William McKinley. The 25th president was a presidential candidate when a gold prospector first named the peak after him.
The White Houses announcement did not specify how Obama and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will assert authority to change the mountains name without approval from Congress.
Obama announced the action as part of a series of efforts to improve outreach to Alaska Natives. He will meet Monday in Anchorage to discuss the efforts with Alaska Native leaders and Gov. Bill Walker (I), Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott (D) and Murkowski.
The new actions include neighborhood revitalization funding for Anchorage, a native youth engagement program and wildlife management cooperation efforts.
Good. Alaska has been fighting for this for 40 years.
What think you?
Much as Cape Canaveral is and was never Cape Kennedy. The land mass. The base is still Kennedy Space Station, as apropos.
Canaveralis, the Spanish name for the land mass.
Denali— is the name of the entire mtn. range that includes McKinley— so the range is far more important than one mtn.
SOB comes to AK to name something that is in their own state. Typical. And typical of Murkowski— not known for her “native american” friendliness unless there are oil rights.
It appears that Barry has finalized all of those ...promises or pledges or pinky ring finger things that he promised he wouldn’t sleep until are accomplished.
He’s now down on his list to the things that only a person with the same malady as Al Capone (sponge bob brain, orsyphilitic dementia)
Just a misspelling ——it is Denial.
The NCAA forced under threats against their scholarships the Division III McMurry University Indians to rename their sports teams. I know firsthand because this happened in my area of West Texas. Nobody wanted it. There was no choice. The name War Hawks was chosen as a substitute after a renaming contest. People like the replacement name, but in their hearts still these are the McMurry University Indians. Officially, they can’t be. A football team with no scholarships to give? Thanks for nothing, NCAA.
And on Friday he will rename Washington, DC as “Obamaville”
How about mount greasy and smelly looking?
Nope.
Our Glorious Leader does not need approval from puny Congress.
By authority of Obama's pen and his phone, of course, and Congress will just look the other way...again.
I thought this was going to be something from The Onion.
Where are the people who represent Americans?
Look, you lowly citizens! The leader has spoken! Do not think that just because he scorns Christian symbols, he does not endorse pagan ones!
Be so good as to acknowledge the Great Narcissist, who knows all, and whose every deed is correct and unquestionable.
This who do not conform will be severely punished.
Hey at least he didn’t try to name it Allah. :-)
I’m pretty sure the law that created the U.S. Board of Geographic names gives it the authority to make that change and no congressional action is needed.
And Army Street will NEVER be Cesar Chavez Blvd.
This is a true statement, my family and I lived in Alaska for four years and our son was born there. Everyone who lives in Alaska already calls it Denali... this is really a non issue. A nice little photo op for a lame duck president.
Look out Flagstaff! The Kenyan is coming for the San Francisco Peaks next which are “generally believed to be central to the Hopi creation story, the San Francisco Peaks are a site of significant cultural importance to many Arizona Natives. Hrumpf! Hrumpf! More of the Kenyan’s goofy “fundmental transformation” shtick.
Yes, actually it should be "C'est quoi" Mountain.
Just think if Obama had to change his name to what people actually call him....
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